For a Neighbourhood Plan to be fit for purpose and be able to deliver the best outcomes for Bankside it needs to be relevant to and owned by the people who live and work here.

The legislation governing the Neighbourhood Plan proposes that its production is steered by a Forum drawn from the local community established for the purpose. It is recommended that there will be at least 21 members. In Bankside there are three tiers to the process:

The Constituency – these are the people who live and work in Bankside, whose current and future needs the Neighbourhood Plan needs to respond to. The constituents will vote in a referendum whether or not to accept the Neighbourhood Plan.

The Neighbourhood Forum – this is a group of people who have come together from the local residential and business communities, who bring different insights, areas of interest and expertise to help steer the production of the Plan.

The Secreteriat – this group is drawn from officers from the Neighbourhood Forum, Better Bankside and Southwark Council. They are responsible for ensuring progress on actions that come out of Forum meetings, and ensuring that the Forum has the information it needs to progress the Neighbourhood Plan.